China braces for ONE action

Timofey Nastyukhin and Yusuke Kawanago go head-to-head in what is certain to be an epic clash of featherweights in the main event of ONE: Dynasty of Champions at the Guangzhou Tianhe Gymnasium in Guangzhou, China, tonight, as ONE yesterday announced their first event in Myanmar next month.

Fight fans will be treated to a night of world-class mixed martial arts action in Yangon on July 18 as ONE: Kingdom of Warriors will be headlined by a battle between current ONE bantamweight champion, Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes and Finland’s Toni “Dynamite” Tauru. The card will also feature local and international mixed martial arts heroes.

In tonight’s action in China, Marcos Santana and Ruel “The Wushu” Catalan of the Philippines face off in a flyweight contest as Zorobabel Moreira returns to the ONE cage against Christian Holley.

Nastyukhin announced his arrival in emphatic style with a devastating knockout of Eduard Folayang at ONE: Warrior’s Way last December. After a series of ferocious striking exchanges, Nastyukhin (eight wins and one loss) landed a perfectly timed flying knee on Folayang, effectively ending the bout in just one round.

The knockout is considered by many as one of the best knockouts of 2014. He now returns to action against a fellow striker, taking on the tough Yusuke Kawanago.
Featherweight contender Kawanago has a record of 13 wins and four losses.

His well-rounded skills have brought him success in the sport, racking up wins in other promotions before making his ONE Championship debut against Rob Lisita in May last year. Kawanago’s vast experience makes him a formidable opponent for any fighter and he’ll try to derail the fast rise of Nastyukhin in his next bout.

Ruel Catalan is a wushu practitioner and possesses a solid stand-up game to complement his great mat skills.

Catalan made a successful ONE Championship debut with a 2013 knockout win over Khim Dima and has since then gone 1-1 for the promotion. Known for his lightning quick flurries and his ability to draw opponents into intense striking battles, Catalan will look to take the fight directly to Marcos Santana.

Making his ONE debut, Brazilian Singapore resident and Evolve Fight Team member Santana member is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion, who has won numerous tournaments back home. A BJJ black belt, Santana will face a ONE Championship baptism of fire against one of the best flyweights to emerge from the Philippines in Catalan.

Zorobabel Moreira is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and a third degree black belt under Carlos Gracie Junior. He has only been to a decision once in 10 professional bouts and has defeated some of the best lightweights in the world. Moreira faces Christian Holley in a matchup of top lightweights.

Originally from England, Christian “The Animal” Holley’s family moved to Spain when he was five years old. He has finished eight of the 11 opponents he has faced so far, all in impressive fashion.

Having reached the pinnacle of the sport in Europe, Holley has set his sights on conquering the lightweight division in ONE. Looking to stake his claim among the top fighters in the division, Holley, with a 10-1 record, will be looking to make it 11 against Moreira.